Why I wear a Mask (Plus Tips to Avoid & Treat Mask Acne)

 Sponsored by The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

This year has been a whirlwind to say the least. I had COVID-19 in March and it was not fun. I was in bed for almost two weeks and it was the worst virus I've had in my 30 years of life. With that being said, I refuse to live in fear, which is why I choose to wear a mask. I have an autoimmune disease, so I understand the importance of wearing a mask to protect myself and the people around me. I have a lot of immunocompromised friends and family, which is why I mask up. We cannot afford to go backward. I'm partnering with The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for the Spread Hope, Not COVID campaign to encourage you to wear your mask and social distance to help slow the spread of COVID-19. 

Scientists say wearing a mask decreases the spread by at least 70%... That’s crazy! Not only am I wearing a mask when I’m out and about, but I’m maintaining at least 6 feet of distance from others who aren’t in my household. Everyone has droplets in their coughs and sneezes. Droplets also spread when we talk or raise our voice. These droplets can carry COVID-19 to other people. Those coughs spray droplets at least 6 feet. Sneezes travel as far as 27 feet. These droplets can land on your face or in your mouth, eyes and nose. Make sure you cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or upper sleeve. Let’s #SpreadHopeNotCOVID! 

Maskne Issues

With this being the 9th month of this pandemic, I've unfortunately struggled with “maskne,” acne caused by something constantly touching your face (like a mask). It’s vital to wear a mask when out and about, as 40% of those with COVID are asymptomatic. That means one out of every two people with COVID are spreading it without even knowing it! Wearing your mask doesn’t have to come at a cost. I know many of you have struggled with the same thing, so I'm going to share a few tips and tricks I've found to combat those pesky pimples.

Wash Your Mask

If you aren't washing your mask, what are you doing? I know it's hard to remember to wash your mask when you keep it in your car, but I always keep at least two masks in the car, one in my purse and one in my gym bag. If I workout or wear makeup while wearing my mask, I ALWAYS wash it right after. I purchased a pack of cute masks from Kitsch. I highly recommend wearing a reusable mask if you’re able to. It's better for the environment! They have the cutest masks, and they come in a pack of three! I would recommend getting a mask for every day of the week and on Sunday, just throw them in a laundry bag and wash them with your regular laundry or hand wash them with your regular acne face wash if you have sensitive skin.

Avoid Touching Your Face

I know it's hard to not fiddle with your mask. They can be irritating, but you should avoid touching your face regardless of the mask. If you're struggling with acne, adding more bacteria onto your face will just cause more problems and put you more at risk of getting sick. Touching your mask can actually increase your risk of getting COVID-19 if your hands aren’t clean. Always remember to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water aren’t available, use hand sanitizer until you can get to a sink to wash up. You should also avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose and mouth to prevent the spread of bacteria. 

Limit Makeup

Ok, I know this sounds weird coming from me, the makeup queen, but if you can avoid wearing makeup while wearing a mask, it will help breakouts. I like applying eye makeup and a little concealer when I want to feel fancy for a nice night out at the grocery store LOL. But in all seriousness, the mask is great for hiding imperfections and acne treatments! I go out with pimple patches and masks on all the time, and who would know? Especially at a six-foot distance. It’s important to stay at least six feet away from others who aren’t in your household, as droplets from a cough or sneeze, or even someone talking, can travel that distance easily. Just skip the makeup altogether! You don't need it!

Wash Your Face!! 

If you wear a mask every day, but you don't wash your face every day, you're just asking for problems! Especially if you struggle with acne like me. You want to always wash your face after wearing a mask. I like to use a glycolic face wash, and if I can't wash my face right after a workout or wearing my mask for a few hours, you can use a salicylic acid spray and spray it on your face and mask to help keep pimples away (I got that tip from Dr. Pimple Popper)!

Treatment 

Now is a perfect time to simplify your skincare routine. I've simplified my routine so much during quarantine, and it made all the difference in how my skin looks! I'll do another post on my routine, but the one thing that's really helped with my acne has been adding retinol into my routine every day. I love the Differin gel for a good affordable retinoid that's great for acne-prone skin.

For more information about preventing the spread of COVID-19, please visit the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services website. And remember to Spread Hope, Not COVID!